A museum given the dubious name of 'Naziland' by critics has been opened in the former castle home of SS leader Heinrich Himmler.

The 17th century Wewelsburg Castle, near Paderborn in Germany, charts the history of the country's murderous elite.

The display claims to be the largest in the world devoted to the history of the SS - and a poignant warning never to allow it to happen again.

A Nazi SS helmet which is part of the display at Wewelsburg Castle in western Germany

Eerie: The so-called 'Crypt' opened during the opening of the exhibition 'Ideology and Terror of the SS' at Wewelsburg Castle

Himmler - who was obsessed with the occult - used concentration camp labour to build a giant swastika in the basement where SS heroes were to be cremated.

Elsewhere he constructed a chamber with an eternal flame overlooked by 12 pillars for SS 'knights' as his version of King Arthur's round table.

Nazi memorabilia: SS uniforms and insignia are among the items on display at the castle designed by SS leader Heinrich Himmler

Evil: Nazi and SS paraphernalia and propaganda. The exhibition contains 1,000 pieces charting the history of the SS as it developed from Hitler's elite guard to a band of more than a million that committed unspeakable crimes across Europe

But critics have warned that the new £7million museum will become a shrine to far right neo-nazis who will make pilgrimages to the castle.

Deputy museum director Kirsten John-Stucke said: 'Unwanted right wing visitors who want to make the castle a pilgrimage site will be kicked out.'

Despite the criticism, German authorities now intend to open more exhibitions about the Nazi regime - including a museum in Berlin dedicated to the dreaded Gestapo secret police on the site of its former HQ.

A Swastika adorns the ceiling of the 'Crypt'. The circular crypt had a gas pipe in the floor for an eternal flame, and 12 pedestals at even intervals around the walls

Wewelsburg castle, a renaissance castle which was used by the SS during Nazi rule

Left: An SS manual on display at the spiritual home of SS leader Heinrich Himmler, right